MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan – Stymied the week before in a 34-0 home loss to Yokota, Nile C. Kinnick’s coaches installed a new quarterback-receiver combination. And the move bore immediate fruit on Friday as the Red Devils eclipsed their entire win total of last season.

Sophomore Dustin Wilson went 7-for-18 for 257 yards, including two first-half touchdown strikes to junior tight end Corey Smoak, as Kinnick blanked Robert D. Edgren 13-0 to improve to 2-1. The host Eagles fell to 0-2.

“The kids forgot about Yokota and concentrated on one team: Edgren,” Red Devils coach Dan Joley said. “They’re getting good at putting games in the past and focusing on the next one. They’re maturing as a team. They were actually disappointed with tonight’s game.”

After being held to 46 yards on 42 plays vs. Yokota, the Red Devils erupted for 387 yards, 297 of them in the first half, and overcame 18 penalties for 150 yards.

Wilson first hit Smoak for a 78-yard touchdown pass. Then after a series of penalties backed the Red Devils to their own 20 facing first down and 55 yards to go, Smoak broke free behind the secondary, taking a pass from Wilson and was “off to the races,” Edgren coach Michael Gros said. The 80-yard play gave the Red Devils a cushion, but their defense made sure it wasn’t needed.

Dustin Kimbrell had 176 all-purpose yards on 16 touches for Kinnick. Quinton Holden, whom Wilson replaced under center, played strong safety and had eight tackles and one interception. Alex Banks led Kinnick with 12 tackles, including two quarterback sacks.

The only blemishes on Wilson’s quarterback ledger were interceptions by Edgren secondary men James Bowman and Sean Gammel. The Eagles have been outscored 47-0 in two games this season.

Gros felt the score wasn’t an indicator of a game he felt “could have ended 0-0.”

“Our defense played wonderful ball,” Gros said. “We just couldn’t move the ball on offense and they (Kinnick) got away with two big plays.”

Edgren is off until visiting American School In Japan on Sept. 24. Kinnick hosts Zama American on Friday; the Red Devils rallied to beat the Trojans 39-26 in the Aug. 26 season opener.

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